Mets to Retire Carlos Beltrán’s Jersey
It’s been quite some time since Carlos Beltrán stepped into the role of manager for the New York Mets—six years, to be exact. Now, the Mets appear to be ready to embrace him as a primary figure for the franchise once more.
Beltrán was appointed as the Mets’ manager just before the 2020 MLB season, following the dismissal of Mickey Callaway. Unfortunately, the revelation of his involvement in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal led to his departure before he had even managed a game.
This past Monday, the organization declared that they will retire Beltrán’s No. 15 jersey on September 19th.
Since Beltrán last played for the Mets in 2011, 12 players have worn his number, with the current holder being outfielder Tyron Taylor. Interestingly, Beltrán’s Hall of Fame plaque, which will be unveiled this summer, will showcase a Mets cap. He will join Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza as the only players to represent the Mets in Cooperstown.
When the MLB unveiled its investigation into the Astros back in 2020, Beltrán was notably the only active player mentioned in the report by Commissioner Rob Manfred.
There are ongoing speculations that Beltrán was pivotal in orchestrating the sign-stealing, likely alongside Alex Cora, who was the Astros’ bench coach during that period.
One of Beltrán’s most unforgettable moments with the Mets was rather unfortunate, but it doesn’t overshadow his status as one of the franchise’s elite players. If you think about it, that curveball from Adam Wainwright during Game 7 of the National League Championship Series is hard to forget. Statistically, he ranks third in WAR, fourth in OPS, and seventh in both home runs and RBIs.
This nine-time All-Star has consistently delivered throughout his career, making an impression during his second season with the New York Yankees by hitting .295 with an .850 OPS, along with 35 home runs and 101 RBIs.
As a switch hitter, Beltrán accumulated 2,725 hits, including 435 home runs. His career stats also include three Gold Glove Awards, and he achieved 300 stolen bases, placing him among a rare group of only eight players in MLB history known as the 300-300 club. Among switch hitters, he ranks fourth in home runs, trailing behind legends like Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray.
He also belongs to a notable club of 39 players who have driven in and scored at least 1,500 runs. Of those, 32 are currently Hall of Famers. The remaining seven either have links to performance-enhancing drugs or aren’t yet eligible for induction, like Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera. Beltrán also showcased his skills in the postseason with a .307 batting average and a 1.021 OPS across 65 games.
